§77-2 Purpose of this chapter; statement of policy. It is the purpose of this chapter to establish a sound statewide system under which it will be possible to attract and retain competent persons for the government service, to establish and maintain a high level of efficiency of employees and to adequately compensate them for the work they do.

It is also the purpose of this chapter that in so compensating employees in the civil service, due consideration shall be given to a decent standard of living and to the ability of the people to pay for such service. In order to effectively achieve this purpose, it is the declared policy of the State that the compensation for public employees be set and determined after careful consideration of at least the following factors:

(1) The general economic condition of the State;

(2) Conditions of the labor market;

(3) The appropriate cost of living index;

(4) The minimum standard of living which is compatible with decency and health;

(5) The amount of compensation which is offered by employers competing for labor sought by the government with due consideration being given to compensation offered or paid of a nonmonetary character and with proper concern over apparent economic trends.

Each director may conduct studies consistent with the purposes and policies expressed in this section. A director may enter into cooperative arrangements with other public and private agencies in the conduct of such studies. [L 1955, c 274, pt of §2; RL 1955, §4-2; am L 1961, c 188, §§2, 8; HRS §77-2; am L 1980, c 258, §1]